Folding vehicle



(No Model.) 2 seets-sheet 1. J. MGBOYLE.

V FOLDING VEHICLE'.

' No. 404,494. PatQntedJune 4, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$119,911 2.

J. lVIoBOYLE.

FOLDING VEHICLE. No. 104,494l l Patented June 4, 1889.

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1 -UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH MCBOYLE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,494, dated J' une 4, 1889.

l Application filed March 19, 1889. Serial No. 303,940. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH MCBOYLE, of

the city of Oakland, county of Alameda, State scription of the same.

My invention relates 'to that class of vehicles in which the several parts are so arranged and connected as to adapt them to be folded, thereby redu ein g the vehicle to a smaller compass and rendering it portable.

The Object of my invention is to provide a vehicle for a childs use which can be packed in small compass easily and carried about, and when required for use can be unfolded and be developed into a perfect and practical vehicle in which the child may be drawn'.

My invention consists in the folding wheels, the folding tongue, the folding body or seat and folding back, the folding foot-rest, and in the combination and arrangementv of these parts and their connections, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my vehicle ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts folded, one of the wheels being broken away to avoid confusion and the other wheel being but partially folded.

Y A is the axle of my vehicle.

B are the wheels, mounted upon journals b. These journals are connected with the axle in such a manner as will permit the wheels to be folded on the axle. The connection here shown is formed by iitting the inner ends of said journals in the grooved or slotted ends of the axle and pivoting them therein by vertical pins C. This connection will permit the wheels to be turned from their plane of action at right angles to the axle to a plane parallel with said axle, either in front of it or back of it. I prefer, however, 4to turn the wheels backof the axle, and to do this I slightly round off t-he back corners of the journals b, as shown at b', leaving the forward edges angular. This will permit the backward turning of the wheels and will limit their forward movement, so that in folding them no mistake is liable to be made. Pins c are used to hold the j ournal-connection rigid when in use.

. D is the tongue of the vehicle. This is hinged or pivoted to the axle in such a manner that it may be turned from its normal position to a position parallel with the axle. The connection is here shown as being made by fitting the rear end of the tongue in a clip or, on the axle and pivoting it by a pin or bolt d. This turning of the tongue to a plane parallel with the axle is not interfered with by the wheels, which, as before stated, turn to the back of the axle. Y

In orderto decrease the length of the tongue when in a folded position, I sever it and connect the sections by a hinge d', the joint being held rigid when the tongue is in use by means of a sliding bolt d2, seated in staples d3 under the sections.

secured to the axle and have the shape shown,

with rearwardly-extending upper portions' c, to avoid interference with the wheels when folded back. I do not, however, confine myself to this shape of springs, as other shapes may be used, and, in fact, any suit-able support occupying a reasonably small space may be employed.

The body or seat F is hinged to the springsy or supports E, so that it may be turned from a horizontal position when in use to a vertical position when folded. The hinge-conne@- tion is here shown as consisting.- of links f,

pivoted to both the springs and seat, this connection permitting the back portion of theseat to find considerable bearing-surface on the spring tops when said seat is in use,and yet allowing it to clear said tops when folded down.

The seat F is held in a horizontal position by-a standard G, preferably of a springy nature, the lower end of the standard being hinged at g to the tongue, and its upper end bearing under the forward portion ofthe seat and suitably secured thereto, as by a pin g.

.I-I is a lazy-back hinged to the seat and I is a foot-rest pivoted by a bolt i Ion the IOO tongue. rlhis foot-rest is adapted to be turned, when in use, t-o a position at right angles with the tongue, and when out of use to a position parallel therewith, in this latter position lying directly on top of the tongue. Under the tongue is the usual supporti11g-standard J, which is adapted to hold the vehicle upright when at a standstill. Secured by a bent arm k to the back of the axle is a safety-roller K, which is for the purpose of preventing the Vehicle from tipping too far backwardly.

The operation of the vehicle is as follows: Suppose it to be in position for use and that it be desired to fold it, so as to render it portable. The pins c are removed from the axle ends, so as to free the journal-connection. The wheels are then turned backwardly, so as to lie behind and parallel with the axle. The supporting-stamlard G is now released from the seat and temporarily thrown back. The lazy-back II is then folded down on the seat, and the seat itself is folded down to a Vertical position. The tongue is now turned to a plane parallel with the axle, and the standard G is folded down inwardly on the tongue. The joint-holding bolt (Z2 is then removed, and the jointed tongue is folded back upon itself. This completes the folding of the Vehicle, which is thus reduced to a small coinpass and may be easily carried about from place to place until wanted for use, when the parts lnay be unfolded and adj usted in, position. If desired the seat may fold outside the tongue.

Although I have described and illustrated a two-wheeled vehicle, it is obvious that Vehicles of other kinds may be similarly arranged.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with its axle, wheels hinged to said axle, whereby they may be turned from their position when in use to a folded position when out of use, substantially as described.

2. In a folding Vehicle, and in combination with its axle and wheels, journals on which the wheels are mounted, and a pivot or hinge connection between said journals and the axle, whereby the wheels may be turned to a folded position, substantially as described.

3. In a folding Vehicle, and in combination with its axle and wheels, journals on which the wheels are mounted, and Vertical pivotpins connecting the journals with the axle, whereby the wheels may be turned from a plane at right angles to said axle to a plane parallel therewith, substantially as described.

4. In a folding Vehicle, and in combination with its axle and wheels, journals on which the wheels are mounted, fitted' in slotted or grooved ends of the axle and adapted to be i turned backwardly therein, and vertical pins 5. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with its axle and wheels, the journals on which the wheels are mounted, fitting the axle ends, the vertical pivot-pins connecting the journals with the axles, whereby the wheels may be turned to a plane parallel with the axle, and the removable pins for holding the journals in line with the axle when the wheels are in use, substantially as described.

6. In afolding vehicle, and in ucombination with the axle, the tongue hinged or pivoted to said axle, adapted to be turned from a plane at right angles to the axle to a plane parallel therewith, substantially as described.

7. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with the axle, the tongue and the connection between the tongue and axle, consisting of the axle-clip into which the tongue tits, and the vertical pivot pin or bolt securing the tongue therein and permitting it to be turned to a plane parallel with the axle, substantially as described.

8. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with the axle, the tongue hinged or pivoted thereto, whereby it may be turned to a plane parallel with the axle, said tongue having a hinged joint in its own length, whereby one section may be folded over on the other section, substantially as described.

9. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with its wheeled axle and suitable seat-supports carried thereby, the scathinged to said supports, whereby it may be turned from a horizontal to a vertical position, substantially as described.

l0. In a folding vehicle, its wheeled axle, suitable seat-supports carried thereby, and its tongue, the seat hinged to said supports, whereby it may be turned from a horizontal to a vertical position, and the standard G, hinged to the tongue and' adapted to support the seat in a horizontal position and to relieve it when about to be turned to a vertical position, substantially as described.

1l. In a folding vehicle, its wheeled axle and the seat-supporting springs rising therefrom, in combination with the seat and the links hinged to both seat and springs, substantially as described.

I2. In a folding vehicle, the combination of the hinged seat adapted to be turned from a ,horizontal to avertical position, and the lazybacl; hinged to the seat and supported by jointed braees,whereby said lazy-back may be folded down on the seat, substantially as described.

13. In a folding vehicle, and in combination with its tongue, the foot-rest pivoted upon said tongue and adapted to be turned from a position at right angles to said tongue to a position parallel therewith, substantially as described.

14. In a folding Vehicle, the combination of the axle, the wheels having journals pivoted or hinged to said axle, whereby said wheels may be turned to the back of the axle in a plane parallel therewith, the seat-supporting IOO ITO

IIS

springs rising from the axle and having back- Wardly-extending top portions avoiding the Wheels When turned, and the seat supported by the springs, substantially as described.

l5. In a folding vehicle, the combination of the axle, the Wheels pivoted or h in ged thereto, whereby they maybe turned to the back of the axle in a plane parallel therewith, theV seatsupporting springs rising Afrom the axle, the folding seat hinged to said springs, the tongue hinged to the axle, whereby it may be turned to a plane parallel with the axle, and the seatsupporting standard hinged to the tongue, substantially as described.

16. A folding vehicle consisting of the axle, the wheels hinged thereto and adapted to be turned to the back oi' the axle, the springs rising from the axle, the seat hinged to the springs and adapted to be turned from ahorizontal to a Vertical position, the jointed tongue hinged to the axle and adapted to be turned to a plane parallel therewith, the seat-supportingstandard hinged to the tongue, and the footrest pivoted on the tongue and adapted to be turned from a position at right angles to a position parallel with said tongue, substantially as described. i

In Witness whereof I havehereunto set m hand.

JOSEPH MCBOYLE.

Witn esses:

S. I-I. NoURsE, H. C. LEE. 

